at heart

ADVERB

in reality

Synonyms

WEAK

at bottom basically deep down fundamentally in essence in spite of appearance inside

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

It is, at heart, a cooperative act—a republic the size of a field.

From Slate • Jun. 11, 2026

But Stephania lived in turmoil, because she was a feminist at heart.

From Salon • Jun. 8, 2026

The longer you live, the more likely you are to realize that not everyone has your best interests at heart.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 8, 2026

"I'm a purist at heart and I think our Scotch bonnets need to be properly protected."

From BBC • May 31, 2026

She'll still have an American passport, but she can go back to being a Bengali at heart.

From "You Bring the Distant Near" by Mitali Perkins